boat race is a side @ - @ by @ - @ side rowing competition between the university of oxford ( sometimes referred to as the " dark blues " ) and the university of cambridge ( sometimes referred to as the " light blues " ) . first held in 1829 , the race takes place on the 4 @ . @ 2 @ - @ mile ( 6 @ . @ 8 km ) championship course on the river thames in southwest london . the rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities and followed throughout the united kingdom and broadcast worldwide . cambridge went into the race as reigning champions , having beaten oxford by over a length in the previous year
boat race is a side @ - @ by @ - @ side rowing competition between the university of oxford ( sometimes referred to as the " dark blues " ) and the university of cambridge ( sometimes referred to as the " light blues " ). first held in 1829, the race takes place on the 4 @. @ 2 @ - @ mile ( 6 @. @ 8 km ) championship course on the river thames in southwest london. the rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities and followed throughout the united kingdom and broadcast worldwide. cambridge went into the race as reigning champions, having beaten oxford by over a length in the previous year